Peer Review of Phase 1 of UCL Study into London bus driver mortality from covid-19

Keith Prince: According to the Minutes of the TfL-UCL “Bus worker and Covid-19 Research Steering Group” Meetings published on TfL’s Website, it appears that Sir Michael Marmot was asked by the Head of TfL’s Safety, Health and Environment team to Peer Review Phase 1 but did not accept. What reasons were given for Sir Michael's refusal?

The Mayor: The minutes of the seventh steering group meeting state that Transport for London’s Chief Safety Health and Environment Officer asked the UCL team whether Professor Sir Michael Marmot would be peer reviewing the paper and was advised that this would be undertaken by the Deputy Director of the Institute for Health Equity. At the time it was thought that Professor Sir Michael Marmot might not have availability to peer review the report and that this could lead to undesirable delays in the publication of the report. However, he kindly made himself available and undertook a review of the report ahead of publication. It is not the case that he refused to undertake peer review.

TfL advertising revenue

Gareth Bacon: Further to question 2020/1715, has TfL calculated an accurate figure yet? If not, when is this due and what plans do TfL have to address this?

The Mayor: In the Q1 Financial Performance Report issued by Transport for London (TfL), revenues for Q1 2020/21 are £3m versus a Q1 performance in 2019/20 of £33m, a reduction year on year of 91 per cent. The coronavirus pandemic and interventions to prevent the spread of the virus resulted in a severe decline in passenger numbers on TfL services, and at the peak of the lockdown passenger numbers were as low as five per cent on the Underground
When TfL initially set out its emergency budget, revenue forecasts were reduced by 50 per cent as a starting point. However, this was when it had little understanding of the duration of the lockdown measures or the severity of the impact on revenues.
TfL continue to work closely with its media partners to try and mitigate the significant impacts on revenue. However, this will be dependent upon how lockdown measures are eased and the return of the potential audience.

Gerrymandering Investigations

Unmesh Desai: How many investigations into electoral boundary gerrymandering has the Met conducted in the past 10 years?

The Mayor: The MPS informs me that there have been no investigations into Gerrymandering in the last 10 years.

Streetspace (4)

Gareth Bacon: What engagement did you undertake with London boroughs, local businesses and affected stakeholders in advance of publishing your Streetspace programme?

The Mayor: From the outset of my Streetspace programme, Transport for London (TfL) has been actively engaging with London’s boroughs to introduce temporary measures that will enable more Londoners to walk and cycle while capacity on public transport remains limited by social distancing.
Transport for London and the boroughs have been closely following the Government’s updated statutory guidance on the Traffic Management Act 2004, updated on 23 May, which set out how “measures should be taken as swiftly as possible, and in any event within weeks, given the urgent need to change travel habits before the restart takes full effect.” The Streetspace programme is subject to senior government oversight, via the Active Travel Oversight Group, as per the funding agreement between TfL and the Government.
The Streetspace programme is being delivered at pace, which made it difficult to do comprehensive community and stakeholder engagement before the programme started. However, TfL has engaged with boroughs while planning the programme and prior to implementing schemes, and is committed to actively engaging with and listening to local communities, businesses and stakeholders while these temporary measures are in place. This includes writing to communities before a new scheme is introduced, providing the latest information on each scheme on the Streetspace website and holding virtual community and business forums to listen to stakeholder feedback.
Please also see my response to Mayor’s Question 2020/2674.

Fines for ‘Unlicensed Music Events’

Unmesh Desai: How many fines have been issued to those organising or attending illegal ‘unlicensed music events’ between April and August 2020?

The Mayor: From the month of April 2020 to 27 August 2020, there were no records of any fines being issued to those attending the unlicensed music events (UMEs) for breaches of Covid-19 legislation. The stance of national policing when enforcing Covid-19 legislation was to use the 4 Es: engage, explain and encourage before enforcing. If substantive offences were present, such as organising a ‘rave’, that legislation will have been used before Covid-19 enforcement.
On 28 August 2020, the Covid-19 regulations on gatherings for over 30 people came into force. Over the August bank holiday weekend, four people were reported for the consideration of £10,000 fixed penalty notice for organising or being involved in the organisation of a gathering of over 30 people, specifically an UME.

Compliance with self-isolation guidance (1)

Onkar Sahota: How many penalties of all forms has the Met issued for breaches of self-isolation rules?

The Mayor: As of 9 September 2020, the Met has enforced no Fixed Penalty Notices for breaches of self-isolation rules.

Urban firefighting and rescue course

Andrew Dismore: Please provide an update on the five-day course covering high rise, fire survival guidance and evacuation policies as noted in LFB’s consolidated GTI and HMI action plan.

The Mayor: The Urban Firefighting and Rescue Course is part of phase three of the training plan for the high rise policies. This course is currently in the planning stage. Due to the necessity to use a real fire training venue that can allow the products of a fire to be safely dispersed, a venue needs to be sought outside London. Work is taking place to establish a suitable venue, instructors and costings. This work will continue throughout the first two training phases for the high rise policies.

Metropolitan Police Morale

Peter Whittle: What has been the effect on the morale of the rank and file of the Metropolitan Police in consequence of the introduction of direct-entry at inspector level, which overturns centuries of tradition that all police officers commence their careers at the rank of constable?

The Mayor: The College of Policing (CoP) has recently published an evaluation of Direct Entry (both Inspector and Superintendent) and fast Track programmes. The findings can be read here: https://recruit.college.police.uk/Officer/leadership-programmes/Documents/FTDE-Evaluation-Overview.pdf
The evaluation reports that “there is evidence of established police officers having their negative preconceptions of the programme overturned after working with a programme member” and “there was evidence that the leadership style reportedly increased morale, organisational commitment, professional curiosity and interest in evidence-based policing among those they worked with, including more senior colleagues.”
I look forward to the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) considered view of the evaluation and findings, in due course.

FGM (2)

Susan Hall: Please advise as to how much training to combat FGM is currently taking place in London within the police force.

The Mayor: As part of their training all new police recruits receive guidance on FGM that aims to enable them to recognise the offences and provide an appropriate initial Police response. PCSOs receive an input that provides an overview of FGM risks and indicators.
All new detectives receive training that includes FGM, teaching them how to identify and respond to allegations of FGM. This includes responding appropriately to potential victims at risk, so that an effective Police response may be delivered.
First Contact operators receive training to enable them to identify possible indicators, recognise offences and provide an appropriate initial Police response.
More specialist training on FGM is delivered via the Advanced Safeguarding Course which is designed for DSs and DCs on Safeguarding Investigations Teams. These courses deliver learning outcomes based on the learning outcomes from College of Policing curriculum, covering Domestic Abuse, Forced Marriage, Honour Based Abuse and FGM.

TfL Station Developments (1)

Andrew Boff: For each of the developments at Arnos Grove, Blackhorse Road, Canons Park, Cockfosters, Colindale, Finchley Central, Harrow-on-the-Hill, High Barnet, Hounslow West, Northwood Town, Rayners Lane, Stanmore, Sudbury Town, Wembley Park and Woodside Park, please give the number of homes by 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroomed homes, broken down by affordable and other.

The Mayor: London has a housing crisis, and the only way to fix it is to build housing for all Londoners, from first time buyers to families and downsizers. Each of Transport for London’s planning applications reflects the needs of the local area and the local council’s planning guidelines. Full and final tenure breakdowns for all the above sites will be available once planning permission is received. Planning permission has been granted for Blackhorse Road and Woodside Park and the numbers are set out in the attached table.

Bianca Williams

Peter Whittle: I note press reports that Metropolitan Police officers executed a vehicle stop on Saturday 4 July in Lanhill Road, London W9. Team GB athlete Bianca Williams and her partner, the Portuguese sprinter Ricardo dos Santos were driving a Mercedes which was being driven on the wrong side of the road, at speed. Former Olympic athlete Linford Christie would subsequently accuse the Metropolitan Police of ‘institutionalised racism.’ Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick would tell the Home Affairs Select Committee that a senior officer representing the police had apologised to Williams for the distress the incident had caused her and said the force was reviewing its handcuffing practices1. However, Bianca Williams was in a vehicle which failed to stop when ordered to do so by the police, yet received an apology and no caution. You cannot have a rule of law that doesn't apply to all who live under it. Could you please explain why the Metropolitan Police handled that incident in this manner?

1https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jul/08/met-police-apologise-for-handcuffing-athlete-bianca-williams

The Mayor: There is currently an independent investigation being led by the IOPC into this stop and search incident and as such it would be inappropriate to comment.

Work of the Violence Suppression Units (VSUs) (1)

Siân Berry: Thank you for your answer to my question 2020/1641. Could you tell me: a) what is the name of the database containing details of the 1,000 people, b) which agencies have access to it, and c) is the database accessible to all Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers, and if not how is access controlled?

The Mayor: Crime and intelligence data was analysed for suspects involved in violent offences. The data came from MPS systems which all MPS officers have access to at varying levels depending on their need and role.
The individuals identified are held within a secure network folder that is only accessible to specified Officers within the MPS.

Police conducting home visits to offenders during coronavirus lockdown (2)

Siân Berry: Thank you for your answer to my question 2020/1641. In your answer you said: "These individuals were identified by the MPS (Metropolitan Police Service) through an analysis of crime intelligence data for the last 3 years and establishing who had been involved in 2 or more incidents of serious violence during that period."
Could you: a) further explain what you mean by ‘involved’ in incidents and, b)
outline the criteria used to identify these 1,000 people and separate them from other people who had been involved in two or more incidents?

The Mayor: Individuals identified for visits were involved as suspects in serious violence, such as gun or knife crime. In order to be selected, as well having been involved in two or more incidents over a three-year period they must also have been a named suspect on a reported violent offence (CRIS) within the last 12 months.

Specialist appliance crewing (1)

Andrew Dismore: How many LFB operational staff have completed a) Fire and Rescue Unit and b) Command Unit training in each year since 2016?

The Mayor: Please see the tables below, which show the number of staff that have completed Fire and Rescue Unit training, and Command Unit Training for each year.
Fire and Rescue Unit Training
2020
17 (as of 9 September 2020)
2019
73
2018
22
2017
37
2016
44
Command Unit Training
2020
26 (as of 9 September 2020)
2019
14
2018
16
2017
13
2016
10

Free Speech - Extinction Rebellion

Tony Devenish: Will you publicly support the Home Secretary’s call to defend press free speech and support calls to toughen the law with Extinction Rebellion criminals potentially facing a 5 year prison sentence?

The Mayor: I have been clear that there is a fine balance between protecting the democratic right to peaceful protest and keeping citizens safe and London functioning. I strongly condemn the actions of those who break the law and I have supported the Met Commissioner’s call for the Government to update police powers over protests and public order incidents. It is right that previous public order legislation is reviewed.

Flu Jab Awareness

Tony Devenish: Further to your reply to MQT 2020/2399 will you consider launching a public information campaign as soon as possible on the tube and bus network to increase the NHS early flu jab uptake to fight the potential of a second wave of Covid-19?

The Mayor: Each year the flu kills around 11,000 people and hospitalises thousands more. This year it’s more important than ever for people at risk to get their free flu vaccine. The vaccine is the best protection for you and those around you.
I will be supporting the NHS London campaign to encourage eligible Londoners to get their flu jab, including getting my own in the coming weeks. With regards to messaging on the transport network, the NHS will be able to access TfL’s commercial advertising estate in the normal way, as it has already been doing for its current Coronavirus information campaigns.

Shoplifting (2)

Peter Whittle: To ask the Mayor how many people have been arrested and charged for shoplifting in the Metropolitan Police District over the last five calendar years.

The Mayor: Over the last five full calendar years (2015-2019), a total of 30,371people have been arrested and charged for shoplifting in the Metropolitan Police District. An additional 1,706 people have been arrested and charged for shoplifting during the period January to August 2020.
Data on arrests and charges for shoplifting since 2015 is presented in more detail in the attached document.

Face coverings on TfL services

Andrew Dismore: Despite publicity, it is clear that some passengers are ignoring the requirementto wear face coverings on TfL services. What can you do to encourage better compliance? As some people appear to think that the rules don’t apply to tube station concourses and platforms, but put on coverings when boarding trains, will you improve the publicity to make clear the rules apply throughout stations as well as on trains and buses?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) has a implemented a wide-reaching publicity campaign about the correct wearing of face coverings which includes information about how and where they should be worn.
The campaign describes how to wear a face covering over the mouth and nose and that it should be worn for the full duration of your journey. The information has recently been updated to include the new fines of up to £3,200 for not wearing a face covering.
This information can be seen widely across the TfL network including stickers, posters as you enter the station, updates to Conditions of Carriage on display at all stations and an extensive advertising campaign. TfL also includes this information on its coronavirus webpage, which has been visited over 1.5 million times. Its latest research indicates that 91 per cent of customers claim to wear a face covering on every journey. TfL continues to monitor the situation and amend publicity as required.
As of 21 September, 95,280 people had been stopped by TfL enforcement officers from getting on our public transport services until they put on a face covering. Most complied by getting their face covering from their bag or pocket, putting it on correctly or purchasing one from a nearby shop.

Cultural Awareness Toolkit

Unmesh Desai: How is the effectiveness of the Met’s newly commissioned cultural awareness toolkit to be measured and how long will this toolkit be used for?

The Mayor: The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has commissioned Middlesex University to develop a cultural awareness toolkit along with a two-part training video, which will include an explanation and demonstration of the principles behind procedural justice.
This work is currently still in development. Once completed the toolkit will be made available to officers and staff through the MPS intranet. It is intended to be an ongoing resource.
An evaluation of the toolkit will be conducted. This will include qualitative interviews with frontline officers and supervisors. This will also aim to identify the extent to which they have found the toolkit beneficial and applied procedural justice in their role.

Vehicle ‘Stop and Account’ Demographics

Unmesh Desai: Please provide the ethnic breakdown of members of the public subjected to vehicle ’stop and accounts’ conducted in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 to date.

The Mayor: The requested stop and search demographic data can be downloaded from the publicly available MPS Stop and search dashboard which can be found below: https://www.met.police.uk/sd/stats-and-data/met/stop-and-search-dashboard/
It should be noted that in March 2011, the government introduced changes to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) Code of Practice A. This made the recording of Stop and Account interactions non-mandatory for all police forces. Stops of vehicles that do not result in searches are also not recorded.

TfL Pensions

Shaun Bailey: What percent is the employer contribution rate Transport for London pays towards employee pensions?

The Mayor: The Transport for London Pension Fund is a defined benefit scheme whereby employees pay a fixed rate contribution of five per cent of pensionable salary and the employer pays the additional contributions necessary to fund the benefit promise.
The current employer contribution rate is 33.3 per cent. This comprises 26.9 per cent for future service benefits and 6.4 per cent in respect of deficit reduction contributions.

Vehicle Stop Demographics

Unmesh Desai: Please provide the ethnic breakdown of members of the public subjected to vehicle stops in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 to date.

The Mayor: The requested data does not currently exist. The MPS only currently record vehicle stops where either the vehicle and/or the person(s) in the vehicle have been searched.

London Fire Brigade Communications

Shaun Bailey: How much has London Fire Brigade spent on communications each year since 2015/16 to date?

The Mayor: The following breakdown provides the total cost of all LFB communications resource for each year since 2015/16, including all staffing costs and communications spend.
Tax Year
Annual Budget £'000
2015/16
£1,946
2016/17
£1,818
2017/18
£1,806
2018/19
£1,755
2020/21
£1,851

Mayor's Press Office

Shaun Bailey: How much was spent on the Mayor’s press office in 2019/20 financial year?

The Mayor: The total cost of the Mayor’s Press office for 2019/20 was £977,912. This includes staffing costs and the budget for the shared service media monitoring contract provided to the Mayor and the London Assembly, TfL, Crossrail and the Met Police.

School Bus Routes (3)

Alison Moore: How have the contracted payments to the school bus operators changed as a result of Covid-19?

The Mayor: When the bus network was reshaped following lockdown, bus operators were paid their contract costs for school routes. These incorporate fixed cost elements such as vehicle leasing, premises and overheads. However, variable costs not incurred on things like staff and fuel were reimbursed to Transport for London. Since the re-opening of schools, bus operators are being paid the same way as before the pandemic, based on the scheduled mileage they operate.

‘Producers’

David Kurten: It is an offence not to produce your driving licence, certificate of insurance and MOT certificate when requested to do so by a police officer. However the usual procedure is that the police officer will issue a HO/RT1/ (called a 'producer'), requiring the driver of a vehicle to produce the documents at a police station of their choice within seven days. How many ‘producers’ have been handed out to drivers by the Metropolitan Police’s Traffic Command over the last five calendar years?

The Mayor: The MPS has not used HO/RT1 for the period covered by this question - licence, insurance and MOT information can be verified through computer checks.

Government Safer Streets scheme (2)

Andrew Dismore: Give the rising street crime rates in the Bloomsbury area and its impact on the local West End economy, especially affecting tourists and visitors to London, why was this area not chosen as a suitable bid to the Government Safer Streets scheme?

The Mayor: As was mentioned in Mayor's Question 2020/3064, MOPAC identified the Boroughs that fulfilled the scheme’s criteria. Using this criteria, 1,566 Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) were found to be eligible in London – approximately one in three areas. MOPAC calculated the average rate of offending across the LSOAs to identify those that had rates five or more standard deviations above the mean, which resulted in 6 boroughs being identified as they had the top 9 LSOAs for acquisitive crime. Camden (and therefore Bloomsbury) was not one of the Boroughs identified as having the top LSOAs for acquisitive crime.
The real issue here is that the Government cynically chose to distribute its £25M fund equally across 43 police force areas, rather than by demand. The latter would have meant that much more money would have been available for several boroughs in London, instead, London was awarded £301,162 for only one borough.

Fines for unreadable number plates

Caroline Russell: How many fines have the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) issued, by year, for the past five years for cars with illegible number plates?

The Mayor: Please see the attached document for the data requested.

Delay to incorporation of Grenfell Tower learning

Andrew Dismore: The Consolidated GTI and HMI action plan notes a delay from April 2020 to March 2021 incorporating learning from Grenfell Tower into incident command training, so that all LFB personnel understand the nature and risk of high rise and external wall system fires. Why is the delay on this so much longer than other covid-19 related impacts?

The Mayor: The Grenfell action plan was combined with the HMICFRS action plan in April 2020 to create a consolidated plan. At that time, the baselined end date for this task was set as April 2020. When the consolidated plan was reviewed and an update provided in May 2020, the forecast end date was amended to March 2021 to take into account the date by which the training courses will have been developed and implemented. The forecast end date has remained the same ever since.

Temporary Suspension of Free Travel for 11-17 year olds (2)

Alison Moore: Of the children with an a) 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard; or b) 16+ Zip Oyster photocard, how many of them live more than two miles from their school/college and so remain eligible for free travel to school?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) does not hold information on the numbers of school children who live more than two miles from school. TfL is aware that current legislation also allows free travel for some children who live within two miles from school and have a social worker and for those who have an Education or Health & Care Plan, are in alternative provision, have a medical condition or have no safe walking route. TfL does not hold this information either.
The arrangements for the changes to free travel provision which the Government has requested remain under discussion between the Department for Transport and TfL. TfL has advised that it believes this information needs to be sourced from the Local Education Authorities or schools.

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods

Florence Eshalomi: Some of my constituents are concerned that due to the nature of the Experimental Traffic Orders (ETO) they have not been properly consulted regarding roads and streets that fall under the Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes. They are equally concerned that their views will not also be taken into consideration after the trial period if the LTNs are to become permanent. What is being done to ensure that there is a balanced and transparent consultation process?

The Mayor: Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs)are an extremely important tool right now to enable more Londoners to walk and cycle while capacity on public transport remains limited by social distancing.
LTNs are delivered by London’s boroughs, but funded through Transport for London (TfL) or the Department for Transport as part of my London Streetspace Programme.
Boroughs have been closely following the Government’s updated statutory guidance on the Traffic Management Act 2004, updated on 23 May, which set out how “measures should be taken as swiftly as possible, and in any event within weeks, given the urgent need to change travel habits before the restart takes full effect.”
By using Experimental Traffic Orders (ETO), boroughs will assess and monitor an LTN’s impact, while also listening to feedback from local communities and businesses during the trial period. In Lambeth for example, your constituents can provide their views during the trial via the Council’s Commonplace website: https://lambethtransportcovidresponse.commonplace.is/
TfL will continue to work closely with London’s boroughs during each LTN trial period. I am assured that boroughs will take the appropriate steps to engage and listen to your constituents’ feedback, in accordance with the relevant statutory procedures applying to ETOs, before making any decisions on removing or making schemes permanent, including with appropriate modifications.

Taxi Trade

David Kurten: Your Streetspace programme has blocked access to the kerbside for taxis in many streets in many areas. What are you going to do to reverse this problem?

The Mayor: My London Streetspace programme, working with every London borough, is designed as a temporary scheme to make London easier to walk, cycle and use buses to minimise the public health risks brought by coronavirus. It also avoids the congestion that would result from a car-led recovery, with all of the delays and health impacts that this would bring.
Each scheme is carefully designed to minimise any disadvantages to road users, within that overall aim. Each Transport for London (TfL) led project requires an Equalities Impact Assessment, and the same duty has been pointed out to boroughs in the guidance issued in May.
There are a few locations where barriers are in use to create pedestrian space or protected cycling space. I have asked TfL to review our pedestrian space projects with a view to reducing the use of barriers, and changes have already been made to several sites.

Bishopsgate Road Closure

David Kurten: The closure of Bishopsgate and other TfL roads in the City of London to taxis means that journey times for taxis which are no longer able to use those roads are much longer and more expensive for passengers. What are you going to do to reverse this situation?

The Mayor: The London Streetspace project at Bishopsgate is a temporary scheme designed to reduce motor traffic so that adequate space can be given for walking and cycling, and to improve the efficiency of buses. All of this seeks to reduce risk of infection by giving people space to travel.
The design of the scheme is such that access to almost all of the corridor, and to Liverpool Street station, is preserved for taxis and other vehicles. The restriction on end to end access is in place for Monday to Friday 7am to 7pm, which is the same hours chosen by City of London for its own changes.
The Equality Impact Assessment for the decision recognises that there is some disadvantage for taxi users, but this is justified by the public health imperative and the benefits that are brought, while the design minimises that disadvantage. The scheme will be continually monitored.

Diversity in TfL-managed Advertising Space (3)

Caroline Pidgeon: What measures are you taking against the advertising of high-carbon products and service in TfL’s advertising spaces?

The Mayor: I am committed to do doing all we can to reduce the harmful effects of global warming and climate change. However, there is not currently a simple definition of a ‘high carbon’ product which could form the basis for any meaningful measures that could be applied to the advertising on the Transport for London (TfL) estate.
Before the current crisis I had asked TfL to look into how this issue could be addressed, for example by restricting the advertising of fossil fuels. This work was put on hold due to the current pandemic and also a major reduction in advertising on the network. However, its initial review did indicate that fossil fuels was not a significant element of the advertising on the estate. As the advertising market continues to recover, I will ask TfL to look at this issue again to see if there are any further practical policy steps that can be taken.
TfL’s current focus is on working with its key advertising partners to rebuild its advertising revenue streams following the impact of Covid-19 on the advertising industry.

Diversity in TfL-managed Advertising Space (1)

Caroline Pidgeon: What measures are you taking to ensure London’s diverse and underrepresented communities are prominent on adverts shown in TfL’s advertising spaces?

The Mayor: London is one of the most diverse cities in the world and so it is only right that the advertising that Londoners see every day reflects that diversity.
We ensure the Transport for London (TfL) and GLA advertising and information on the network is reflective of the diversity of the Londoners we serve.
Increasingly, commercial advertisers are also realising that running advertising that is representative of the city is not only socially responsible but good business.
Working with my office, TfL has also been at the forefront of promoting diversity in the commercial advertising. To encourage commercial advertisers to make that change we introduced the TfL Diversity in Advertising Competition to create advertising that represents London’s diversity. The first competition in 2018 focused on the representation and diversity of women in advertising and the second focused on authentic representation of black, Asian and minority ethnic Londoners.

Disproportionality in the Gangs Matrix

Siân Berry: Could you explain why there are still extreme ethnic disproportionalities within the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Gangs Matrix?

The Mayor: As explained in the Matrix review, the possibility of conscious or unconscious bias may be a factor in the level of disproportionality which exists in the Matrix, however the recommendations implemented following the Matrix review have ensured that processes for adding and removing individuals are more robust, mitigating this risk.
Oversight and audit of the Matrix has been strengthened to ensure that each Basic Command Unit is regularly reviewing its local Matrix cohort to make sure that there is a justifiable audit trail for retaining each individual on the Matrix, and if not they are removed. The new processes have meant that between Q4 2018/19 and Q1 2020/21 the Matrix cohort has reduced by over 600 individuals.

Work of the Violence Suppression Units (VSUs) (7)

Siân Berry: Further to my question 2020/2172, there has been a marked increase in stop and search since March this year by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). What number and proportion of all stops and searches were conducted by the new Violence Suppression Units (VSUs) from March 2020 until now?

The Mayor: The Violence Suppression Units were formed on 4 May 2020 and therefore no data will be held before that point. Data from 4th May onwards is set out on the table below.
Number and proportion of stop and searches by the Violence Suppression Unit from 4 May 2020, which is when the unit was formed is set out in the table below.
May (from 4 May)
7.6%
Jun
7.5%
Jul
7.3%
Aug
8.2%
Sep (to 8 Sep)
8.1%
Total
7.7%

Emergency Active Travel Fund

Joanne McCartney: A number of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods have been funded very recently under the government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund. This funding is welcome, but due to the urgency to implement schemes quickly, normal consultation periods are not possible which has caused concern among many residents, both for and against such schemes. What can you and TfL do to ensure that there is proper consultation during the trial periods of these schemes?

The Mayor: Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs)are an extremely important tool right now to enable more Londoners to walk and cycle while capacity on public transport is limited due to social distancing.
LTNs are delivered by London’s boroughs, but funded through Transport for London (TfL) or the Department for Transport as part of my London Streetspace Programme. Boroughs have been closely following the Government’s updated statutory guidance on the Traffic Management Act 2004, updated on 23 May, which set out how “measures should be taken as swiftly as possible, and in any event within weeks, given the urgent need to change travel habits before the restart takes full effect.”
By using Experimental Traffic Orders (ETO), boroughs will assess and monitor an LTN’s impact, while also listening to feedback from local communities and businesses during the trial period. Some schemes have also been introduced using Temporary Traffic Orders due to the urgency of the public health imperative. Here too, boroughs are expected to gather feedback and assess evidence of impacts before making any final decisions on permanence.
In Enfield, for example, residents are able to feed in their views on the Council’s Bowes LTN via the Lets’ Talk website: https://letstalk.enfield.gov.uk/bowesQN
TfL will continue to work closely with London’s boroughs during each LTN trial period. I am assured that boroughs will take the appropriate steps to engage and listen to your constituents’ feedback, before they make any decision to remove or make a scheme permanent.